GARY MADDEN 2001 INDUCTEE

Gary first became actively involved in racing at Western in 1970 when he stepped behind the wheel of the #69 Stockcar, a 1955 Chevy and quickly showed he had talent, winning the fast heat at the track’s Season Opener. Gary finished the year in fourth spot in points which included winning the annual Northwest Insurance Agencies main event trophy along with his ride being voted Best Appearing Stockcar.

In 1973 he ran in the Claimer division, finishing in tenth spot for the year and also competed in the Super Stock division in a 1965 Chevy Beaumont. Gary had a banner year in ’74 as he set a track record for the Claimer class, winning their Championship race and being crowned Season Points Champion. In addition, he won the final Demolition race of the year as well as the Enduro competition.

In 1977 Gary was the Total Destruction feature race winner and also received the Best Appearing Car award which he also won the following season along with the Best Performance award in the Demolition feature.

Continuing to race on a limited basis, he became the first President of the newly-formed Vancouver Island Stunt and Demo Drivers Association (VISDDA) in 1985, a year in which he also became Point Champion for the Demo class. Gary continued as President the following season and was instrumental in forming the Demo Truck class, building a driving a truck and winning the most main events in the season (4) and being voted Member of the Year. He returned for a third term as club President the following year in 1987.

In 1988, VISDDA changed it’s name to the Lower Island Track Racing Association (LITRA) with Gary being the driving force behind the creation of a $299.00 Claimer class. He became the new club’s President for two terms in 1989 and 1990 and was awarded it’s Member of the Year award in 1990 which was followed up the next season with him being given a LITRA Life Membership plus the creation of a new Madden Cup which was given to the Claimer Season Champion.

Gary served two more consecutive years as LITRA President (1995/96), becoming a seven-term club President. Also during that year he restored the 1957 Chevy Stockcar that was formerly driven by Art Reedy and donated it to the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame on which he later was an Executive member. He then became involved with the International Mini Stock 4’s class in 1996, serving as Crew Chief on Sharon Constantine’s car. Gary received that club’s Pit Member of the Year award in 2000 and was the club’s Vice President the following year.